Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A Shore (Executive Councillor for Waste and Recycling) and Mrs A M Newton.

There were no declarations of interest made at this point in the meeting.

There were no announcements.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Executive held on 7 June 2016 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which seeks approval to support the development of a common approach to the recovery of costs where schools, academies and other education organisations in Lincolnshire access services delivered by Lincolnshire County Council)

That the Executive:

(1)  Notes the support services currently provided by LCC to maintained schools and Academies set out in Part 4 of Appendix A for which LCC charges and will continue to charge.

(2)  Notes the support services currently provided by LCC to maintained schools and Academies set out in Part 3 of Appendix A for which LCC does not charge and does not propose to charge.

(3)  Approves in principle charging schools, Academies and other education organisations for discretionary services provided by LCC on a cost recovery basis.

(4)  Approves in relation to the new and existing support services set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Appendix A, that from 1 September 2016, LCC recover the cost of the provision of such services from schools, Academies and other education organisations through appropriate charging mechanisms to be developed for each such service.

(5)  Approves in relation to all support services to schools the development of a single source of information and access to services including by way of digital access similar to an e-commerce environment.

(6)  Approves that authority be delegated to the relevant Chief Officer, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor, for each service area to approve the amount and recovery mechanism appropriate to each service set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Appendix A and the offering of further discretionary services to schools, Academies and other education organisations and the amount and cost recovery mechanism appropriate to each such service.

(7)  Approves that authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children's Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children's Services to approve the final form of the proposed single source of information and access to LCC support services.

(8)  Approves the making of a flat rate charge of £6,500 for standard conversions to schools that choose to convert to academy status to cover officer time and legal charges incurred by LCC. 

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director for Children's Services, which sought approval to support the development of a common approach to the recovery of costs where schools, academies and other education organisations in Lincolnshire access services delivered by Lincolnshire County Council.

The Executive Councillor responsible for Children's Services introduced the report to the Executive and in doing so, highlighted that the proposal would simplify the process of access services and would provide a single source of information for schools.

The Senior Project Manager advised that the approach would involve exploring opportunities to provide a single comprehensive source of information and access for schools, academies and other organisations to receive all of the services they need.  Lincolnshire County Council services in scope of cost recovery would be reviewed periodically to ensure each offer was comprehensive, with clear benefits with an agreed cost structure for each support package.  The services would be offered into a digital form similar to an 'E-commerce' environment.  It was also noted that the terms and conditions and the formula used would be standardised to ensure the full recovery of costs for service activities.

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee had considered a report on Developing a Model for the Charging of LCC Services to Schools at its meeting on 30 June 2016.  The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee highlighted that the Committee's comments had been circulated and made particular reference to the Committee having given qualified support for the proposals, on the basis that the Committee would have wanted more information in the report, particularly on costings.  It was noted that the Committee had requested to see a further report, outlining the costs of services provided, at a future meeting.

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

·         Members were assured that the true cost of services, including overheads, would be charged.  It was highlighted that the County Council could not charge market rate as it would be unlawful for the Council to make a profit on such services.  It should also avoid state aiding academies;

·         The charging template had been devised with in collaboration with corporate finance to ensure the true cost was recouped;

·         Members were assured that none of the chargeable services could compromise safeguarding arrangements.  Further to this it was noted that the County Council and all education providers had a statutory obligation to ensure children and young people were safeguarded;

·         Small schools would be encouraged to collaborate with other schools in purchasing services to ensure affordability and best value for money;

·         The uptake of services, and the viability of services, would be reviewed at the end of each full term (3 times per year), with the first review being January 2017;

·         The next stage in the process would be for each service area to develop service models, which would be scrutinised by finance and commissioning to ensure that any proposed charges were accurate;

·         In relation to 'Education Support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.